Coupling



J. T. KRAPP Aug; 8,.1950

COUPLING Filed July 17, 1946 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT e AOliviCE--af This invention relates to improvements ini coupling devices suitable for coupling hose, conduits and the like, and has for an object the provision of a quickly attachable and quickly detachable coupling, which employs in a socket member cam means having surfaces adapted'to be engaged by an insertable member as said insertable member is inserted for clearing a passage for the latter, and having other surfaces which engage said insertable member and may be manipulated to force it endwise therein against a seatin said socket member to effect a fluid tight seal therewith.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a quickly attachable and quickly detachable coupling which includes a female or socket member carrying a seat with sealing means thereon, an insertable or male member'having an annular surface adapted to be engaged by cam means in said socket member, said cam means being adapted to be manipulated for forcing said male member endwise against said seat; said cam means being first engaged by said male member when the latter is inserted and displaced from the path thereof, and having other portions of its surface adapted to engage said annular surface formed in said male member to effect said endwise movement and thereby establish a fluid tight seal between said members.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a coupling capable of withstanding as great or greater pressure than that applied to the hose or conduit with which the coupling is used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to Vthose skilled in the art lfrom a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which arel merely given by way of example to illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my Ynew and improved coupling;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coupling of Fig.`1, as seen from the upper end thereof; Y

' Fig; 3 is a fragmentary view, showing the normal position of the cam means in the" female or socket member of the coupling, and showing the male or plug member as it first contacts the cam when it is being inserted;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectional View, showing the cam levers being cammed upwardly as the male member is pushed further into the socket member; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view, showing the end of the male member engaging the sealing means on the seat and showing the cams in position to force said member axially, thereby Vcompressing said sealing means and effecting a fluid tight seal when the cam levers are bodily moved downwardly.

\ Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a male or plug member IIJ has a body portion l I which may have a polygonal exterior and a portion I2 of reduced diameter which constitutes the plug portion of j said member. The plug portion I2 has its lower end I3 rounded or beveled, the purpose of which will be presently described. Spaced apart from the lower end thereof, the plug portion I2 has a curved annular groove I4 formed therein, and `this groove is adapted to be engaged by and cooperate with camming means, which will presently be described. A concentric passage I5 is formed in the member I0 and forms a fluid passage therethrough. The upper end I6 of member I0 is counterbored to join the passage I5 and is provided with threads I1 adapted to be used for connecting the member IU to a hose or other conduit, either flexible or rigid, leading to a point of use.

I do not wish to be limited to the threaded counterbore shown, as it is obvious that any Vmeans for connecting the member l0 to any device for use may be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The female or socket member, generally designated by the numeral I8, has a body portion I9 'with a passage 20 formed therein, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of Athe plug portion I2.

By making the passage slightly larger than "the plug portion I2, the chances of binding when the plug member is inserted therein is eliminated, particularly in view of the fact that the plug portion has a beveled or rounded end I3 formed in @the body portion I9, and oppositely disposed jtherein are slots 2I and 22 which communicate .with the interior 20 thereof. The edges of the 'slot 2| are continuous with the inner edges of 'spaced bosses or lugs 23 and 24, and the edges of the slot 22 are continuous with the inner edges of spaced bosses or lugs 25 and 26.

Y The body I9 has an annular portion 21 which is 'larger in diameter and which has an annular groove 28 formed therein. The annular groove 28 is under-cut and has mounted therein an annular lsealing ring 29, which forms a seat at the lower end of the passage 20, formed in the body I9. Below the annular portion 21, the body has a portion 30 of reduced diameter with a passage 3l formed therein, which is substantially the same .isos Fis, e.)- ireelyeecteo one to the fact that theenrl of the member .is between `the substantially parallel .ilat surfaces 37 and 42.

diameter as and concentric with the passage I5. The exterior of the portion may, for example, carry threads 32 adapted to be engaged by a tting on any rigid or flexible conduit leading to a point of use. The lever 33 has its upper end in the form of a boss 34, and a pin 35 forms a working nt in a hole 35a formed therein. This pin also extends through aligned holes formed in the lugs y23 and 24. llhe surface of the boss includes a curvilinear portion 36 with a flattening or clearance portion 31 on one side thereof and a camming portion 38 on the opposite side there;`

of. The action of these surfaces of the boss 34 which forms a camming member will be presently described. A lever 39 is substantially identical with the lever `33 and it has a boss 4U -formed. on

proach their lowest positions, the gasket is comthe upper end thereof, like the boss 34 on the flower end oil the lever 3.9 has anale 4i vtherethrough to accommodate a ring 48,

positions .oi the members le and Iii, when said members are coupled together, is like that shown in, Fie= l.. .lt will noted that the gasket gaulle .to theaiiial pressure of the ina-le .or plus portion IZ against the gasket 2S, causes ,it to bulge inwardly, as shown at 29u-, and thereby .effecta llluid, tight seal between the tvvomembers .le and It, The .levers 3i ano 3S are snor/nas moved to positions wherethev exert the maximum arial pressure on the annular curved ,surface i@ oi tbe plus portion l2,

.i4 acting-against the curvilinear suriaees have.

The carnniing surfaces 318 and eiiected .theasial forcing of the .enel oi the nortliop i2 against the gasket 2S. The rines. :it and 46 are .provided to enable ceci-atar tocas-.ily move the lever 33 counter-clockwise and the lever 33 clockwise to release tloe male `or plug portion ofthe .member iii,

When the two .members `of the .coupling have ,been separated and .it is desired to refassociate them in fluid .tight relation, rstthe end of the plus member ii is inserted into the bore 2i of 'the 1301513 i5 and pressed axially toward the bottoin of the socket in the member i8. rounded edge I5 first encounters the rounded portions 3G and i3 cn the carne 31S and til so that further movement, oi the-member it causes the lever 33 to swing upwardly .in a countercloolrwise direction and causes .the lever .39. to

.swing upwardly in aclockwise-eireotion (sec Fig. 3), Still further movement causes the diameter Yof tire lower enel of the portion l2 to .corne between the-flat surfaces 3l and .4.2 of these cams Further movement downwardly is As the member Ibis moved downwarellyA toward .theseat the .levers remain in their greatest position of upward movement as lons as the diameter of the portion l2 is between theflatportions ..31 and 42- es `the lower end of the portion l2 approaches the gasket .29, the rounded portions pressed and deformed inwardly, as shown at 29a in Fig. 1, and thereby a fluid tight seal is established between the lower end of the plug ,portion i2. and the gasket 29.

From the above description, it will be seen tliat-m5f.new and improved coupling has features and advantages not found in couplings of the :priorartfana one oi; the-incre important features Ais that the male-or plus member inayf-be inserted into the socket. rnernber Without having .to Yiirst manually raise tire levers to `provide clearance.

plusrnernber acts-againsttlie earns anclprovides its ,owniclearanceY Although l liaveliereinfshown and described by wav of examplaoneembodinient ofl inv .new .and improved couplingI it is obvious that many kGranges may barriada in the arrangements nere- .m shown .described .withoutdeparting' from fthe scope ofthe following claims. y

What is claimed'is: l ylil-a separablecoupling device? a tubular male member nav-,ing .oneend thereof raced to -forin .a

seat and having an externalannular .concave Vgroove .formed thereon adjacent to said end. a

female member incluoinsaftubular portion nav.-

an internal shoulder therein, agaslreton-said shoulder adapted -to'bepens'asecl bv said end of said male member,:aslot-iorrned in the wally of .said tubular portion, iournaled on. said tubular portion extending tbrouslisaid slot,

ysaielcarnpliaving anat portion', a curvilinear .por-

i. permettons "errno 

